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Genealogy, Suicide, and Your Family Tree

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Genealogy, Suicide, and Your Family Tree

Societal taboos about suicide often leave the stories of those who take their own lives untold. Here is the story of my 2nd great uncle, John Rhoads (1886-1922).  

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#42)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#42)

"Am on my way. Won't be long" - A postcard from Ida May Jordan to her older brother Isaac in 1908.

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"Nothing but the choicest meats" - Henry Peter Ratz (1867-1934)

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"Nothing but the choicest meats" - Henry Peter Ratz (1867-1934)

My 2nd great grandfather, Henry Peter Ratz (1867-1934), was a butcher. Though, as you'll learn, perhaps not a very successful one. This is his story.

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#41)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#41)

A beautiful color Kodachrome photo slide image of a fisherman from the early to mid 1950s.

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#40)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#40)

"Man's Best Friend" - A delightful Kodachrome photo slide image from 1962.

Pic of the Week (#39) - "I hope you find their stories!"

Pic of the Week (#39) - "I hope you find their stories!"

"I hope you find their stories." How a chance encounter with an antique store cashier inspired my genealogy pursuits. "With love, Molly"

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#38)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#38)

Who is this mystery couple? What is their story? "She is not to be crossed nor does she suffer fools gladly ... his eyes warn you not to take him for a chump."

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Finding Vasilios Demetrio Halvangis

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Finding Vasilios Demetrio Halvangis

Here's the story of how I found genealogy records of my great grandfather, Vasilios Demetrio Halvangis (1891-1937). Born on the island of Samos, Greece, he came to the U.S. in 1911 on the S.S. Martha Washington. 

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#37)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#37)

"Beauty and the Beast" - "Dear Mother, We were over to the berry patch ... they want 8 cts. a quart, they are small." To: Mrs. Nick Nusbaum of Waterville, Minnesota (1908). 

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#36)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#36)

Grant Avenue in San Francisco's Chinatown (1969). How I gave new life to my grandfather's dusty 35mm family photograph slides.  

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#35)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#35)

Here is a delightfully charming 1950s scene of kids playing in in the kitchen and pretending to wash dishes with VEL soap. 

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#34)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#34)

"Dr. Splosive's Corn Cure" - A peculiar postcard (1910) to Edna Gassenburg (age 24) of Visalia, California.

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#33)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#33)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#33) - Rosana Cochran - Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania.

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#32)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#32)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#32) - The Osceola-Gramatan, "A Distinctive Hotel", Daytona Beach, Florida, 1922

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Family History, Genealogy, and Cocker Spaniels

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Family History, Genealogy, and Cocker Spaniels

A collection of 25 vintage photographs of cocker spaniels and their families. Which is your favorite?

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#31)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#31)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#31) - On Strike! 1937 or 1941. 

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#30)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#30)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#30) - Kaiser George, 1921.

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#29)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#29)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#29) - Disneyland, 1965

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"Uncle Ed Costlow and Family. My Mother's Brother"

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"Uncle Ed Costlow and Family. My Mother's Brother"

Here's a wonderful photo of my 3rd great uncle, Edward Costlow (1876-1945) and his family. Learn how to spot clues from photos and census records to help identify family members and clear up genealogy mysteries. 

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#28)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#28)

The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#28) - Frosty vista, 1950s

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